Book-lock



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ATWATER, 9F NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DOOR-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 4,659, dated July 24:, 1846.

To all whom t may co2/067% Be it known that I, JAMES A'iWvATER, of the town of New Haven, inthe. county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Locks for Chamber or other Doors, which I call Atwaters Safety- Lock; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, in which- Figure l, represents the side of the lock toward the outerside of the door, when locked from within, with the keyhole closed by a sliding plate of hardened steel, or, other material, B, which is moved to or from that position by turning the key on the inside of the door. Fig. 2, represents the inside view of the outside plate of the lock, (A, Fig. 1,) with the sliding plate B, attached, and the key in the operation of moving the sliding plate B, by the outer lip of the outer limb F, of the key coming in contact with one of the pins or projections E, E, on the sliding plate i B, the key being sustained in its proper position by the center or main ward G, Fig. 2, (being the same ward as that seen at G, Fig. 3 but inverted.) Fig. 3 represents the inner part of the lock with the center or main ward G, the plate A, Fig. l being removed, showing the operation of thekey upon the bolt Sac, as in the common lock.

The lock is made in any of the common or other forms, either as a. boX lock, or mortise lock, used on chamber or other doors designed to be locked from either the outside or inside at pleasure, with the stem or bar of the key so made as not toA vpass through the opposite plate of the lock from which the key is turned, with a lip on the outer limb F, Figs. 2 and 3, of the key for the purpose of moving the sliding plate B, Figs. 1, and 2, which lip must be cut off from the other limb C, Fig. 2, of the key, so as to allow the key to `turn freely when locking or unlocking the door from the outside, without touching the sliding plate B, Figs. 1, and 2, the key being supported by the ward G, Figs. 2, and 3, irrespective of the pla-tes.

The sliding plate B, Fig. 2, to close the key hole on the outside when the door is locked from the inside, is made of hardened steel, or any other material; but I would recommend hardened steel, or case-hardened iron, so as eifectually to resist a drill, chisel or any other tool used in picking locks. This plate has a key hole through it, so as to ad-k mit of the door being locked and unlocked on the outside in the usual way without moving the sliding'plates; and two pins or projections E, E, Fig. 2, which fit into either of the three notches or spaces in the plate, bar or catch D, Fig. 2. This catch is attached to the inside of the outer plate A, Fig. 2, by a pin, rivet or screw, at one end, in the usual way, and is held in its place by the spiral spring H, Fig.'2, or any other convenient spring.

On locking the door from the inside of the chamber, or apartment, the outer lip of the outer limb F, Figs. 2 and 3, of the key comes first in contact with the edge of the bar or catch D, Fig. 2, between the two pins or projections E, E, Fig. 2, on the sliding plate B, Fig. 2, forcing backthe catch so as to releave the two pins or projections E, E, Fig. 2, when the same lip of the key comes in contact with one of the pins or projections E, E, Fig. 2, and moves the sliding plate B, directly over the key hole on the outside as seen at B, Fig. l, while the other lip of the same limb, F, of the key at the same time carries forward the bolt in the usual way and locks the door.

In unlocking the door from the inside the same operation is performed by the key, but in the inverse order, the bolt is thrown back and the sliding plate is removed from the keyhole, so that the door may then be locked and unlocked from the outside the same as with any common lock, without reference to the sliding plate, which is then concealed.

The advantages of my improvement over all others now in use are that the occupant of a chamber or apartment, when within, by simply turning the key, as in the common lock, not only locks his door, but also closes the key hole on the outside with a plate which is impervious to any drill, chisel or other tool used in picking locks, and thereby renders himself perfectly secure against all pick locks7 from without; and makes it impossible for any one from without to ascertain even, whether he has, or has not a light burning in the room. These advantages can'be enjoyed by the occupant, only when he is in his apartment with the door locked on the inside; for they cannot apply when the door is locked on the outside.

When the door is locked from the inside the key itself Would not avail one on the outside, for it is then impossible to unlock the door from the outside by any means whatsoever.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The application of a sliding plate of hardened steel or other material, constructed and operating substantially as herein de scribed, to the outer plate of any lock for chamber, or other doors (Which require to be locked on either side, at the option of the occupant of the apartment), so as to JAMES ATVATER.

Vitnesses:

THos. BENNETT, R. FITSGERALD. 

